Maori and Pacific Education Initiative
Kia ora; Kia orana; Talofa; Malo e lelei; Fakalofa lahi atu; Ni sa bula vinaka; Taloha ni; Tena koutou katoa
ASB Community Trust has set aside substantial funds for education projects that will promote Maori and Pacific educational excellence.
In line with our vision and mission, the Trust has decided to address the well-documented issue of the underachievement of Māori and Pacific children in schools.
Our aim is to make sure these young people can fully engage in New Zealand society and to enable them to develop the capacity and skills to manage and grow their economic base.
Stage Two Funding
Grants worth another $4 million have been committed to Māori and Pacific Education Initiative (MPEI ) recipients in the 2011/12 financial year.
MPEI was launched in 2006 as a focussed, pro-active intervention aiming to measurably improve education outcomes for young Māori and Pacific people in Auckland and Northland.
A total of $20 million was set aside for this work. In 2009/10, $11.2 million was granted to six community organisations. Now a further $4 million has been allocated to five other education projects. This represents the biggest financial commitment the Trust has ever made to a single enterprise.
Throughout the MPEI process ASB Community Trust has been guided by the project’s vision: ‘Mā tātou ano tātou e kōrero’ (We speak for ourselves). This concept was developed by the independent members of the Māori and Pacific reference groups who created the framework for MPEI . It reflects their confidence that the community holds the solutions to its own problems.
Funding is based on a partnership of selfhelp with organisations that are owned by the community and have the capacity to deliver on their promises. Our Trustees look for evidence that the outcomes will advance Māori and Pacific engagement in citizenship, innovation and sustainability and that those outcomes are measurable, replicable and scalable.
To this end, Kinnect group has been contracted to undertake a comprehensive evaluation for each MPEI project, so both funders and the wider community can learn more about what makes a project a success.
Building on the learning gained from the initial 2009/10 projects, stage two of MPEI was launched in 2010. This time the focus was on the greater urban Auckland area.
Each of the education models aim to raise the academic achievement of Māori and Pacific students and each was chosen for its ability to be scaled up and replicated by other funders throughout the country.
The five projects funded in 2011 are:
The Starpath Project
Starpath aims to address New Zealand’s comparatively high rate of educational inequality with Māori and Pacific Island students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who show significant rates of educational under-achievement compared with their peers. This pioneering research project focuses on transforming educational outcomes for students who are currently under-achieving at secondary school and therefore are under-represented in tertiary education.
The Trust’s grant is for $1.5 million over 5 years, which will be matched by the Government under the Partnership for Excellence programme.
Computer Clubhouse Trust
The Computer Clubhouse Trust has launched a High Tech Youth Academy at Otara’s Clubhouse 274. Aimed at young people aged 16-24 from decile 1-3 schools, it helps students develop skills in creative technologies such as digital production and film making, animation, 3D gaming, visual design and robotics.
Participants are identified by their schools or community organisations as having above-average capabilities and emergent high tech skills.
The Trust’s grant is for $625,000 over 3 years.
University of Auckland — Maclaurin Chapel
The Maclaurin Leaders Programme for 30 young and emerging ethnic leaders at Auckland University combines personal growth, leadership and scholarship with service to the community. Using group learning, community engagement and residential living, participants focus on ethical leadership.
Participants make key commitments to issues including social justice, civic engagement, community building, spiritual exploration, respect for diversity and development of an international perspective. The results aim to show the impact that high values and ideals can have on the community and society in general.
The Trust’s grant is for $110,560 over 4 years.
Māori Into Tertiary Education (Mite)
The Student Pipeline Project helps guide Māori students through their education and into meaningful cadetships, apprenticeships and internships while they are still studying. Managed by Te Wananga o Aotearoa, the project is a joint initiative by tertiary providers to help address Māori participation and underachievement in tertiary education in Auckland.
It provides tangible job outcomes for Māori students by building on existing relationships between tertiary education and corporate organisations. The key objective is to provide a seamless pathway from tertiary institutions through internships or cadetships and employment.
The Trust’s grant is for $647,500 over 5 years.
Manaiakalani Education Trust
The Manaiakalani project uses e-learning innovations and other new digital media to better meet the needs of Māori and Pacific students and their families.
Using internet-enabled personal netbooks, students use cloud computing to access learning anywhere, at any time and at any pace.
Teachers at seven schools have joined the project, applying the new teaching methods which are fundamental to its success. Using a customised version of Google Apps, teachers and students at Pt England School, Glen Brae School, St Pius X School, Tamaki Primary School, Tamaki Intermediate, Tamaki College and Panmure Bridge School are involved.
A wireless infrastructure is also being developed so parents can access and comment on their children’s work.
The Trust’s grant is for $1,208,000 over 3 years.